Game 5 of the NBA is Saturday and most of Arizona is holding out for the Suns to win, according to a new Arizona Public Opinion Pulse (AZPOP) survey conducted by OH Predictive Insights (OPHI).
Nearly 6 out of every 10 Arizonans, and 9 out of every 10 Suns fans, expect the Suns to take home the Larry O’Brien trophy, the survey found.
The survey also found that 8 in 10 Arizonans who like NBA basketball say they are fans of the Suns, and only 5% of those surveyed say they dislike the team.
“After making it through the last eighteen months, enduring a pandemic, wildfires, and what is shaping up to be the worst seasons in Dbacks history, Arizonans are looking to the Suns to bring some much-needed light to the state,” said OPHI Data Analyst Jacob Joss.
Those who have lived in Arizona the longest were more likely to say that the Suns are their favorite team, and nearly half of Arizonans who have lived in the state for over 20 years say the Suns are their favorite team.
Suns mania has also had a positive effect on the mood of Phoenix residents and the economy, the survey found.
Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed who had a generally happy attitude said they are Suns fans, and the economy of the City of Phoenix and the state as a whole has risen 84% and 80% respectively.
“Excitement in Arizona is hotter than a summer afternoon, and Arizona’s first professional sports team is providing an always-welcome economic lift as Arizona recovers from the pandemic,” said Mike Noble, OPHI Chief of Research.
The AZPOP is a statewide survey of Arizona residents and provides regular updates on the moods, perceptions, and opinions of Arizonans on hot topics facing the state. This poll was conducted as an online opt-in panel survey from July 6 to July ``11 from an Arizona Statewide General Population sample., according to a press release.
